Couturier exits Game 1 after crushing hit from Ovechkin

Philadelphia Flyers two-way pivot Sean Couturier exited Game 1 of their first-round series versus the Washington Capitals after suffering an upper-body injury as a result of a hard hit from Alex Ovechkin.

On the chase in the neutral zone, Ovechkin caught Couturier in a dangerous position - just a few feet away from the boards - and drove him shoulder-first into the wall.

Couturier left at roughly the halfway point in the second period, favoring his left shoulder or arm.

CSN's Tim Panaccio is reporting that Couturier suffered a sprained shoulder that will cost him the rest of the series. Head coach Dave Hakstol, though, was unwilling to make that determination, telling reporters that Couturier would be evaluated again Friday.

Regardless, his potential absence would be a massive loss for the Flyers, who expected to lean his defensive acumen in order to shut down one of the Caps' top two lines.

Philadelphia took two points in just six of the 19 games he missed due to injury this season.